Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company was a

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company based on the

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History

Charles Algernon Parsons Sir Charles Algernon Parsons, (13 June 1854 – 11 February 1931) was an Anglo-Irish engineer, best known for his invention of the compound steam turbine, and as the eponym of C. A. Parsons and Company. He worked as an engineer on d ...

founded the company in 1897 with £500,000 of capital. It specialised in building the

steam turbine A steam turbine is a machine that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam and uses it to do mechanical work on a rotating output shaft. Its modern manifestation was invented by Charles Parsons in 1884. Fabrication of a modern steam turbin ...

engines that he had invented for marine use. The first vessel powered by a Parsons turbine was ''

Turbinia ''Turbinia'' was the first steam turbine-powered steamship. Built as an experimental vessel in 1894, and easily the fastest ship in the world at that time, ''Turbinia'' was demonstrated dramatically at the Spithead Navy Review in 1897 and set ...

'', launched in 1894. The successful demonstration of this vessel led to the creation of the company and the building of engines for the first two turbine-powered destroyers for the

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, and , launched in 1899. Although both these vessels came to grief, the new engines were not to blame, and the

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was convinced. Parsons' son became a director in the company and was replaced during the First World War by his daughter Rachel Parsons. Wirnik turbiny parowej ORP Wicher

Parsons turbines powered the Royal Navy's first turbine powered battleship, , and the world's first turbine

ocean liner An ocean liner is a passenger ship primarily used as a form of transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). Ca ...

s, and '' Virginian''. Parsons turbines powered the

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express ocean liners and . All early marine turbines drove their propellers directly. Parsons developed

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reduction gearing for marine turbines, and in 1908 converted the

cargo ship A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usu ...

to turbine propulsion with reduction gearing. Four direct-drive Parsons turbines powered battleship . They were designed to produce a total of , but achieved only in ''Arizona''s

sea trial A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a " shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and ...

s, when she met her designed speed of . The Royal Navy,

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and

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

used Parsons turbines on their destroyers. The s all used Parsons propulsion systems. In 1944, Parsons was one of 19 companies which formed the 'Parsons and Marine Engineering Turbine Research and Development Association', usually known as Pametrada. The destroyer , launched in 1964, had a Parsons propulsion system. The Cunard liner '' Queen Elizabeth 2'', launched in 1969, had Pametrada turbines. The company was absorbed into C. A. Parsons and Company and survives in

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as part of

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, a

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industrial conglomerate.

History

See also

References

Further reading